Meter construction



June 25, 1935.y H.'J. PARDEE METER CONSTRUCTION original Fild Feb. 1o, `19:31

FIG,.2.

SMQ/WW. Howard J. Pardee Gum/ww Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original application February iii, i931, Serial No. 514,884. Divided and this application .lune 2, 1933, Serial No, @741% 9 maints.

water, sewage or like material to be treated. The

said device includes, among other features, a compact and eiiicient arrangement of gas compensator, meter, back pressure valve and gauge in a single portable unit.

This invention relates particularly to a novel and improved meter construction especially adapted for use in connection with the aforementioned unit for the purpose ofdetermining the rate of flow therethrough. In its broadest aspect, however, the aforesaid meter construction is capable of adaptation to other apparatus involving ow of gas, the rate of which needs to be measured to set the feed or ow and to check its maintenance.

-In the detailed disclosure of the invention as hereinafter set forth, two preferred embodiments of the invention are described. However, it is to be understood that these are primarily iiiustrative in character and the invention is not .intended to be limited thereto. Each of 'the'exemplary constructions comprises. essentially an inner meter member whereby the gas passing through the apparatus is introduced into the meter, an outer meter member whereby the Agas leaves the meter to return to the apparatus, and means for indicating thefeed or rate of iiow of the gas through the apparatus. The constructions describedalso include various other details, some of whichare common to both forms and others of which are peculiar to one or the other of the constructions, said several details being fully explained in the following specification, from which the several objects and advantages of the present invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains.

On the accompanying sheet cf drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional representation of one embodiment of meter, aportion of the adjacent coacting apparatus being also shown;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing a second form of meter; and 1 Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-.-3 of' Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several gures of drawing.

The vmeter illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing is of the orice type. It comprises a meter'case screwing the meter connection nut I2. .To disi0, which is securely suspended from the adjacent portion ii (back plate or other member) through the medium of the meter connection nut i2 which, as shown, is threaded onto member il. Gas-tight relationship is assured by the use of gaskets. The meter also includes an orifice assembly l 3, the orifice preferably being an opening it inthe Wall of the assembly. The latter may be provided with a glass lining irl', in which case opening lli also extends through this member. V

Inner glass tube i5 of the meter unit is sup.- ported from the orifice assembly I3, and telescopes into the outer glass tube i5, which in trri is mounted in suitable conventional manner, as by cement Iii or the like, in meter case I0.. The cement or the like I0 is of course disposed between the upper end of the outer tube and the adjacent wall of the casing I0. As illustrated in Fig. i, the upper part of outer tube I6 is preferably of greater diameter than the lower part. Inner tube i5 is securely held to the orice assembly by the large square packing nut Il. As shown, glass lining I4' is, in effect, an extension of inner tube I5.

As clearly shown on the drawing, the orifice assembly may comprise a horizontal flange memoer and a substantially cylindrical wall projecting downwardly from said flange member into case Il). Orice i4 extends laterally through this cylindrical wall. The aforesaid flange member l is supported on a ange provided at' the upper end of case I0. The lower end of nut I2 is profided, as illustrated, with an inwardly directed flange which engages under the lower surface of the meter case ange.

As a result of the aforedescribed construction, the entire meter may be unscrewed as a unitary whole from the restof the apparatus by unassemble the meter, as when it is to be cleaned, split ring I8, which prevents dislodgement of nut I2 from the rest of the meter, is snapped out, whereuponvnut I2 may be slipped down over 45 the meter case I 0. The manometer liquid I9 may. of course, be poured out. The orifice holder I3, with inner tube I5 attached thereto, may then be withdrawn.

One of the defects of orifice metersof the usual type is that the pressure on the inlet and discharge of the orifice is transmitted to the manometer through either tubes or long ports. With such an arrangement, there is often considerable trouble with the meter due to plugging of these 66 ports. In the construction of Fig. 1, however, the oriilce is disposed in the downwardly projecting, substantially cylindrical wall of assembly I 3, that is, adjacent the upper end of the inner and outer passageways dened by the inner and outer tubes I and I6, thus eliminating all ports and connections which may become plugged. If, as shown, the said wall is provided with a lining Il', the orice Il will, of course, also extend through such lining.x

Another defect of Vprior constnictions is that both the inner and outer tubes are severally attached directly to the adjacent portion of the coacting apparatus. With such an arrangement, it is difficult to remove the outer tube without breaking oi! the long light inner tube which is held more or less rigidly to the apparatus. .In the present construction, however, inner tube I5 is held in a separate member I3 which is removable irom the apparatus with the outer tube I5 and is indirectly connected to this outer tube by means of the split ring I8. The inner tube, can then be removed, 'as above described, without breaking, by removing the split ring, slipping down the meter nut, and withdrawing the light orice assembly and inner tube.

As shown in Fig. 3, packing nut I1 is square, and the corners of this square -nut come into close contact with the interior of meter case Il so that when the oriiice assembly vI3 is raised, it cannot be moved sideways until after this nut is above the endvof case Il. T'his relationship of parts makes it impossible to tilt the oriceassembly I3"- and tube I5 to such an extent as to induce breaking of the latter during the time that the assembly II is being loosened from case Il. It may often happen that the holderA I3 becomes stuckV to case Il and a knife blade or the like has to be inserted therebetween to separate them. This involves a tilting or tipping which might result in the breaking of inner tube I5, but which the packing nut I'l prevents. A Y 1 In operation, the gas ilows in at the top of the inner tube I5, that is, at the inlet to y Ils out 'through the oriiice Il, which in eifect constitutes the outlet from assembly I3, and up and out of the meter, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. That is, the ilow of gas makes a sharp, substantially right angular turn just before pass'- ing through the orifice. However, heavy particles which would tend to plug the orifice tend to be carried by their velocityxnomentum on by vanddownintotheinnertubeimteadofmaking the turn with the gas. In this manner, the small orice is maintained free of fouling.

Topushthegasthrolightheoz'lcell,the1n'essureintheinner tube I5isgreaterthantbatin outertube I5. .Thisgreaterpressureintheinner tube not only forces the gas throughv the orice but alsordepresses the liquid I9 in the inner tube to a level below the level of the liquid in the outer tube, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1. The more gas flowing through orice Il, the greater Vis the diil'erencein pressure and the farther theinner liquid level isV depressed below the outer A liquid level. By measuring Vthe depression, the

amount of gas owing through the a can be determined.

-To the latter end, the lower end of the case I l has a portion thereof cut away leaving a particylindrical guard member 2l which substantially.

but not entirely encompasses the outer tube I5.

shown). This scale 2I functions to indicate the amount of gas flowing through the apparatus by measuring the difference in liquid levels. In making the measurement, the scale is slid up or down in theV guard member until the zero line thereof is even with the liquid level in outer tube I5. The scale reading opposite the liquid level in inner tube I5 will then indicate the quantity of gas flowing through the oriilce.

The advantage of the small cross section of the lower part'of the outer tube I6 andthe large cross section of the upper part thereof is that this arrangement allow's less manometer liquid to be used. This is important where the gas being measured is soluble in the liquid, as is often the case. As the gas dissolves in the liquid I9, the liquid volume increases, raising the liquid level in the 7meter. If the outer tube I5 is large all the way down, the amount of increase in volume due to the solution of gas may change the level of the surface several inches, but if most of the length of the tube is of reduced cross section and only the upper part thereof enlarged, the change in the surface level due to dissolved gas will not be appreciable or of disturbing extent. Y

Fig. 2 illustrates an alternative form of meter. The purpose of this meter is, like that of the aforedescribed oriiice meter, to indicate the quantity of gas ilowing through the apparatus with which itis associated. The essential difference between the two meter constructions is that the latter is a bubbling meter, indicating the rate of flow bythe rate of passage of bubbles therethrough instead of by the diiference in level between two columns of liquid, asin the case oi' outlet therefrom leading to the inner tube I5. Y

'I'he latter includes, in addition to the uppermost reduced end which cooperates with the packing of nut I'I as in the case of the construction oi Fig. 1, enlarged upper and lower portions 22 and 22' connected by a constricted intermediate portion 23. A bubbling lip 24 is provided at the lowermost end vof the inner tube I5.

-As in the previous construction, the inner tube extends into outer tube I6' which resembles tube I6 except that it is of reduced length and of substantially uniform diameter throughout. Outer tube I6' is substantially entirely encompassed by meter case Il', in the lower portion of which it is suitably secured, as by cementing.

Meter case Il. is provided with a peepopening or window 25, and the parts should be so disposed that the little glass teat 26 on tube I5' is visible through the said window. Teat 25 is disposed above the high edge of bubbling lip 24, so that the aforesaid arrangement insures that this high edge is disposed directly in front o1' window 25.

In operation, -the gas flows down through e inner tube I5', bubbles Yfrom 'the lip 21,1 the bell 22', rises through the meter liquid/1i, and from the top of the outer tube back to its destination. 'The rate at which passing` through the meter is indicated by 'the' number of bubbles coming away from the bottom of the inner tube per unit of time. The quantity of gas passing for any rate of bubbling may be ascertained from calibration tables.

The space" between the enlarged portion 22' and the adjacent linner surface of meter case A minimum o1' manometer liquid is used, the level thereof being only suiliciently above the lower bell 22' to enable the bubbles to be easily seen.

While two preferred embodiments ofthe invention have been described somewhat in detail,-

it is to be understood that various minor changes may be made ltherein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is intended to be limited only by the terms oi,

the claims hereunto appended.

What is claimed is:

1. A gasflow measuring meter of the manometer liquid type particularly adapted for use in .connection with a gas control unit or the like,

said meter comprising an orifice assembly lncluding an orifice, an inner tube depending from said assembly, an outer tube disposed in telescoping relation to the lower end of the inner tube, said outer tube being partly iilled with manometer liquid, said assembly comprising a substantially tubular wall constituting an extension of said inner tube in substantial alinement with the latter, said orice being arranged in said wall, means for attaching said assembly and tubes as a unit to said gas control unit or the like, and means f or indicating the rate of ilow of gas through'the meter.

2. A gas flow measuring meter comprising a meter casing, a flange extending laterally from tl'iel upper end of said casing, a holder seated on said ilange and including a portion'projecting into said casing, an inner tube securelyheld by said h lder-and dependingv therefrom into said casing, aid portion and saidinner tube being in substantial alinement with each other, an outer tube securely mounted in said casing and disposed in telescoping relation to the lower end oi' said inner-tube, said holder being pro- .vided with a.` gas inlet and a gas outlet, means for connecting said meter casing, holder and tubes as a unit to gas control apparatus or the llike, said means comprising a lateral flange constituting a seat for said mst-mentioned flange, and means for indicating the rate of ilow of gas throughsaid holder.

3. A gas ilow meter comprising inner and outer telescopingly arranged substantially tubulai; meter. members provided with juxtaposed lateral anges, means for connecting said meter as a .unit to enacting apparatus and for simultaneously maintaining said 'filanges in gastight contact with each other, said means comprising a meter connection nut and a'split ring mounted in said nut and adapted to retain the latter in operative engagement with the flanges.

4. A gas flow measuring meter of the charac- -ter described comprising essentially a substantially" cylindrical meter casing, 4a ,threaded extensionon said casing for attaching it in gas-- tight depending Arelationship to gas control apparatus orA the like with which the-meter is intended to coact, an inner substantially tubular meter member whereby gas, the rate of ilow of which is to be measured, is introduced into the meter, an outer meter tube arranged in telescoping arrangement with fthe. lower end offsaid inner member, said casing substantially encompassing' said inner member and outer tube', the

with an opening vinterconnecting the interior thereof with the interior of the outerm tube, and means for indicating the rate of flow of gas through said meter.

5. A gas flow measuring meter of the character described comprisingessentially'aninnersubstantially tubular multi-part meter member whereby gas, the rate of ilow of which is to be measured,

is introduced into the meter, said inner meter member being provided with a restricted oriilcedei-lning opening, an outer substantially tubular multi-part meter member whereby the said gas leaves the meter, and means for indicating the,

rate of ilow of gas through the meter, said meter being attachable and detachable as alunit from the apparatus with which it is intended to coact, said inner member comprising an openended tube and a holder therefor, said outer member comprising aniete' casing and an outer tub'e securely mounted in said casing, said innertubular member extending substantially into said outer tube, and said opening extending also through said holder.

6.' A iiow measuring meter for use with gas control apparatus and the like, comprising a meter casing and telescoping inner and outer tubes, means connecting said outer tube to said casing, and additional means'for connecting said inner tube to said casing, said additional means comprising a. polygonal packing nut encompassing said inner tube and including portions extending into close adjacence to said meter casing.v

meter casing andrtelescoping inner and outer tubes, a holder for said'lnner tube removably mounted VVon said casing, and guide means on said holder adjacent said inner tube, said means including portions extending into close adjacence to the opposed surfaces of said casing, whereby cooking of the holder and breakage ofsthe inner tube during withdrawal thereof from the casing is prevented.

8. A flow measuring meter comprising a casing and telescoping inner and outer tubes, means for mounting said outer tube in said casing, and additional means for connecting said inner tube .to said casing, said tubes and casing defining gas inlet and outlet. passageways therebetween, and said additional means including an orifice constituting a passageway between t e aforesaid passageways, said orifice extendl g laterally throughsaid additional means an said inner tube.

9. A gas now measuring meter comprising an u open-ended multi-part glass inner tube and an outer tube, closed at its lower end and disposed in telescoping relation to the lower end of said inner.tube, the uppermost part of said,inner tube beingl exteriorly reinforced and provided with an orifice extending laterally therethrough. 7o

HOWARD J. PARDEE, 

